In the Pursuit of Equality
From the American Civil War in the 1860s to the present-day Chinese protests for marriage equality, it is clear that equality has been an age-long struggle all around the world. Nevertheless, no matter what the time period or location, one can always acknowledge that the state of being equal only occurs when all parts are even and uniform in degree, quantity, value, and ability. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Orwell challenges the understanding of equality by presenting readers with a deceptive statement. Although Napoleon’s conversion to the commandment fooled the other animals, in reality, it is fallacious. There is no truth or logic to the idea that one aspect can be equivalent and simultaneously greater than …show more content…
In the beginning, the idea and execution of a farm ran and operated by animals was exemplary. Orwell narrates, “and every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it...everyone worked to his capacity. Nobody stole. Nobody grumbled over his rations. Nobody shirked” (24-25). Through this, it is shown that equality is truly defined by a balance. All the animals did equal labor and received the same portion of the harvest. Then, the situation on the farm changes. The pigs decide to appoint themselves to receive additional benefits and be less involved with the labor, “the animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day, however the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs...the pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised” (31). This change represents the balance of equality starting to tilt. By demonstrating the impact change has on equality in a progressive manner, it aids the reader to consider the details of past and the present. In the past, one observed a content, productive environment where all inhabitants were equal. Conversely, one could not describe Animal Farm’s current state as equal, because all the aspects are no longer congruent. For instance, the pigs are …show more content…
The problems raised by affirmative action are caused by concerns about the policy’s effectiveness and fairness. The Leadership Conference mentions how some believe that diversity does not impact the productiveness of the United State’s schools and workforces. Due to this, some question the degree affirmative action programs have been effective in providing otherwise unavailable opportunities in education, employment, and business. Moreover, some wonder the extent that the government and citizens should allow discrimination and bias to persist, especially in a systematic way (Affirmative Action). That is to say whether or not diversity should trump over qualification and where diversity scales in comparison to a person’s other attributes when considering applications for colleges or jobs. Notwithstanding, the most controversial facet of affirmative action is to what extent should these programs be allowed to benefit the racial minority and to what expense of the white majority. Comparatively, in Animal Farm the levels of equality were not balanced, citizens of the Unites States face the same issue. Attempting to form a society where everyone was considered equal evoked problems for the animals and caused them to misconceive what equality means. In the same manner, affirmative action programs are striving to figure out an effective way to level the balance, while doing so, they must keep in mind the policy’s original goal and
From the American Civil War in the 1860s to the present-day Chinese protests for marriage equality, it is clear that equality has been an age-long struggle all around the world. Nevertheless, no matter what the time period or location, one can always acknowledge that the state of being equal only occurs when all parts are even and uniform in degree, quantity, value, and ability. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Orwell challenges the understanding of equality by presenting readers with a deceptive statement. Although Napoleon’s conversion to the commandment fooled the other animals, in reality, it is fallacious. There is no truth or logic to the idea that one aspect can be equivalent and simultaneously greater than …show more content…
In the beginning, the idea and execution of a farm ran and operated by animals was exemplary. Orwell narrates, “and every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it...everyone worked to his capacity. Nobody stole. Nobody grumbled over his rations. Nobody shirked” (24-25). Through this, it is shown that equality is truly defined by a balance. All the animals did equal labor and received the same portion of the harvest. Then, the situation on the farm changes. The pigs decide to appoint themselves to receive additional benefits and be less involved with the labor, “the animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day, however the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs...the pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised” (31). This change represents the balance of equality starting to tilt. By demonstrating the impact change has on equality in a progressive manner, it aids the reader to consider the details of past and the present. In the past, one observed a content, productive environment where all inhabitants were equal. Conversely, one could not describe Animal Farm’s current state as equal, because all the aspects are no longer congruent. For instance, the pigs are …show more content…
The problems raised by affirmative action are caused by concerns about the policy’s effectiveness and fairness. The Leadership Conference mentions how some believe that diversity does not impact the productiveness of the United State’s schools and workforces. Due to this, some question the degree affirmative action programs have been effective in providing otherwise unavailable opportunities in education, employment, and business. Moreover, some wonder the extent that the government and citizens should allow discrimination and bias to persist, especially in a systematic way (Affirmative Action). That is to say whether or not diversity should trump over qualification and where diversity scales in comparison to a person’s other attributes when considering applications for colleges or jobs. Notwithstanding, the most controversial facet of affirmative action is to what extent should these programs be allowed to benefit the racial minority and to what expense of the white majority. Comparatively, in Animal Farm the levels of equality were not balanced, citizens of the Unites States face the same issue. Attempting to form a society where everyone was considered equal evoked problems for the animals and caused them to misconceive what equality means. In the same manner, affirmative action programs are striving to figure out an effective way to level the balance, while doing so, they must keep in mind the policy’s original goal and